Monuments Across Appalachian Virginia Announces Next Round of Projects to Receive Funding

After announcing the first round of funding last winter, Monuments Across Appalachian Virginia has added five more projects to its list, bringing the total to nine projects funded by the Mellon Foundation.

Monuments Across Appalachian Virginia is a three-year initiative to fund the construction of new monuments in Virginia’s Appalachian Mountains, with the goal of sharing the untold stories of the region’s historically marginalized, oppressed, and excluded communities. It is based in Virginia Tech’s College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences and led by Emily Satterwhite of the Appalachian Studies Program and Katrina Powell of the Center for Refugee, Migrant, and Displacement Studies.

As with the first round of projects, the most recent projects highlight perspectives from across the region, including Pulaski, Pound, Rocky Mount, Clifton Forge and Monroe. Of the five projects, three focus on African American stories, one on Indigenous stories and one on the diverse voices of individuals from working-class occupations, a profession that is a cornerstone of Appalachian history. Monuments Across Appalachian Virginia awarded a total of $1.26 million to the five projects in the second round.

“Each of these projects has taken a tremendous amount of effort and thought, and I am in awe of their passion and the relationships they have built to tell their stories so eloquently,” said Lauren Trice, the initiative’s coordinator. “From the beginning, our projects have put the voice of their community at the center, and even being a small part of that process is a privilege.”

New projects

Green pastures: Working with local stakeholders, preservation groups and Douthat State Park, the project will introduce an interpretive trail and scenic reading to highlight the rich heritage and stories associated with Green Pastures. This recreation area holds significant cultural significance as a recreational haven for African Americans during a time of segregation.
23/54: In 1947, 23 Black parents and 54 children spoke out against racial discrimination in Corbin v. Pulaski County School Board in Virginia. Inspired by this story, the Calfee Community and Cultural Center aims to research and tell the stories of courageous Southwest Virginia Black parents, their ancestors, and their descendants through oral history interviews, archival research, a traveling exhibit, and a community-created quilt.
Yesáh Community House: The Monegasque Nation Cultural Foundation will build a modern home that will serve as a physical monument to the Monegasque people in Virginia. It will be built on the grounds of the Monegasque Pow Wow in Monroe and will become the permanent home of the annual event.
Work in motion: The Town of Pound and Appalachian Voices will partner to create an amphitheater and decorative retaining wall. The amphitheater will be transformed into the town’s premier performance venue for civic events and storytelling chosen by town residents.
Raise the shadow: More than 180,000 African-American soldiers made significant contributions to the American Civil War. However, there are only a few monuments honoring them. The Franklin County NAACP hopes to share these stories and more at various community events over the next year, as well as dedicate a monument to these soldiers.

While planning for these projects is just beginning, the first round of projects are gearing up for unveiling this fall. Visit the Monuments Across Appalachian Virginia website for the latest updates on project unveilings. Each unveiling will be open to the public.

To learn more about all projects, please visit www.moremountainstories.org.